Alpha Wolf

Monster "Drowner" Lv2 Subjugation!

Reward calculation: Defeating a stronger enemy, base rating D; killing above your level +1—D+; decapitation intimidation +3—C+; Main Quest +3—B+

Final rating: B+

Loot obtained: Drowner Heart Essence Fluid, Lesser Experience Orbs ×10, Drowner's Chest ×4

Main Quest completed: The Beginning of the Path of Monster Hunting (Kill Drowner 1/1)

Reward obtained: Appraisal LV1

The flood of information made Ailin's mind ring nonstop, like a school bell announcing the end of class.

On top of that, the monster-hunting skill had instantly drained all his stamina.

Ailin's vision went dark, and he collapsed straight onto the drowner's corpse.

More than ten seconds passed before he managed to stand again.

The Witcher Master's impassive face was only a step away.

This had to be revenge! Ailin thought.

The center of the training grounds was only eight or nine meters from the edge.

With the Witcher Master's abilities, he definitely could have reached Ailin before he fell onto the corpse.

But Vesemir had not.

"Ailin... how did you do that?"

A surprised voice came from beside them.

Ailin and Vesemir both turned toward the speaker, Leto.

Leto held the drowner's head, his face full of disbelief.

Killing a drowner with a steel sword as an apprentice was already nearly impossible.

Yet Ailin had killed it by decapitation!

Its hide, muscles, and bones—every layer of the drowner's body was protected by Chaos Magic.

Only a silver sword could weaken or even ignore those defenses.

A steel sword? Decapitation?

Forget an apprentice—even he, a witcher with thirty years of experience, could not accomplish that.

The witchers watching the spectacle also gathered around.

They were equally shocked by Ailin's strength.

Blood continued to gush from the headless corpse.

Noticing the stunned expressions around him, Ailin finally realized just how unbelievable his feat had been.

But at the same time—

He fell into another predicament—how was he supposed to brush off Leto's question?

Just as Ailin frantically racked his brain for an excuse, a deep voice came to his rescue.

"Leto, witchers are not all the same."

The witchers gathered around Ailin and the headless drowner stepped aside, opening a path for the voice's owner.

"The School's early experimental records state that apprentices who undergo perfect mutations during the Trial of Grasses have a slight chance of awakening Witcher's Eye."

"Those who possess it can see the flow of Chaos Magic within a monster's body."

Once they recognized the newcomer, the witchers all lowered their heads slightly and greeted him.

"Chief."

"Good morning, Chief."

The man called Chief nodded in response.

He had long black hair and ash-white skin.

Within his rare gray Cat Eyes seemed to lie the snow that never melted atop the Blue Mountains.

He was a man much like Kaer Morhen.

Though it was a strange comparison, that was Ailin's first impression of him.

But Witcher's Eye that could see the flow of Chaos Magic?

Had there been a setting like that in the game?

The Chief gave Ailin an approving nod, then glanced at the grotesque head in Leto's hand and said calmly,

"Leto, even after passing the Trial of the Mountains, you cannot stop studying."

Cold sweat instantly beaded on Leto's forehead. He repeatedly agreed, looking exactly like a failing student being called on by a teacher.

"Yes, Chief. Once I finish teaching these apprentices, I'll head to the library."

Vesemir:?

Aren't I the one teaching the apprentices?

"It's fine, Leto. I can handle the apprentices. Hurry along." Vesemir said expressionlessly.

Leto:?

So this was revenge!

Seeing the Chief look over again, Leto hurriedly changed the subject.

"Vesemir, didn't you and Ailin have some sort of agreement just now?"

The moment he spoke, nearly twenty pairs of eyes instantly focused on Vesemir's face.

Vesemir's mouth twitched twice despite himself.

Seeing the target shift to himself, Ailin quickly refused.

"No, no, it was just a joke."

Vesemir's expression improved considerably after hearing Ailin's words.

He unfastened the sword clasp on his armor and slowly drew the silver sword "Elsa," sheath and all, from its sword bag. After gazing at it reluctantly for a few moments, he handed it to Ailin, then turned to the apprentices.

"Apprentices, let me teach you another lesson."

"For witchers of the School of the Wolf, a promise outweighs life itself."

His firm, ringing voice echoed through the ash-gray castle.

That sounded pretty cool, Ailin thought. It would have been more convincing if the hand holding out the sword wasn't shaking.

Now it was the Witcher Apprentice's turn to be caught in a dilemma.

"Take it, apprentice."

The Chief's deep voice rang out, startling everyone.

A witcher's promise indeed outweighed his life, but enough Oren also outweighed a witcher's life.

After all, hunting monsters meant risking one's life for money.

And this was 17,325 Oren.

That was why they had only egged them on before Ailin killed the drowner.

Leto had always spoken without thinking. He had to be regretting it now.

But why would the Chief say something like that?

Seeing that Ailin had not moved, the Chief paid it no mind and continued, addressing Vesemir.

"Vesemir, after the Trial of the Mountains, take Ailin with you to accept contracts."

"Within five years, have a silver sword forged for him that is tailored to him and comparable to this one, then trade it back for your own sword. Can you do that?"

Vesemir had no objection.

Forging a weapon suited to oneself took more than money.

Finding the materials, working with the craftsmen, and even a bit of luck during the forging process were all necessary to obtain a weapon one found satisfactory.

To others, "Elsa" might be worth 17,325 Oren.

But to him, it was worth far more than that.

Besides,

A promise outweighed life itself.

He had intended to give the sword to Ailin from the start.

"Of course." Vesemir nodded and said to Ailin, "Take it."

Seeing this, Ailin could only accept "Elsa."

The sheathed silver sword was almost as tall as he was.

Standing before Vesemir, Ailin carefully held her in his arms, making sure the scabbard would not scrape against the ground.

Then, at Vesemir's signal, he followed the others out of the training grounds.

By the fence outside the training grounds.

At some point, Leto had moved over the other cages covered with black cloth.

"Very good, apprentices. Let's continue our practical lesson."

"Who's next?"

No one answered.

Vesemir lowered his head and looked curiously at the three apprentices. When he saw them all fidgeting and unwilling to step forward, he asked,

"What's wrong?"

After dawdling for a long while, sleepy Huus timidly poked out his little head. He cast a longing glance at "Elsa" in Ailin's arms before asking,

"If we win, can we get a silver sword too?"

The other two Little Heads also looked at Vesemir expectantly.

Vesemir:?

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